Optical ferrule and connector

ABSTRACT

(Problem) 
     To provide an optical ferrule that can easily accommodate multicore optical fibers, without an accompanying increase in the number of components. 
     (Resolution Means) 
     The optical ferrule  1  includes a guide opening  14  formed by an upper wall  10 , a bottom wall  11 , and a pair of side walls  12  and  13 ; a guide part  15  that extends forward from the upper wall  10  and the guide opening  14 ; and an optical coupler  20  provided on the upper surface of the upper wall  10 . The optical coupler  20  has a waveguide aligning part  21  that aligns and holds an optical waveguide  2 , and a light direction converter  22  that changes the direction of light from the optical waveguide  2  and emits the light toward an opposing optical ferrule  1.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an optical ferrule and a connector forconnecting optical fibers together.

BACKGROUND

MT connectors are known as connectors for connecting optical fiberstogether. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2009-134262 (patent document 1) discloses an MTconnector where optical fiber holes are formed in a row in an MT ferruleintegrally molded with a resin, and multicore optical fibers areinserted and fixed into the optical fiber holes. The MT ferrule not onlyhas optic fiber holes, but also has a mating pin for positioning, and amating hole where the mating pin mates.

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2009-134262

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, the MT ferrule disclosed in patent document 1 has a mating pin,so the cost is increased in conjunction with an increase in the numberof components. Furthermore, the MT ferrule disclosed in patent document1 requires space for the mating pin and the mating hole, and thereforethe space for attaching the optical fiber is correspondingly reduced,and thus using multicore optical fibers is difficult. Therefore, anobject of the present invention is to provide an optical ferrule andconnector that can easily accommodate multicore optical fibers.

Means for Solving the Problem

One aspect of the present invention is an optical ferrule, including: anupper wall; a bottom wall on the opposite side as the upper wall; a pairof side walls that face each other and connect the upper wall and thebottom wall, such that a guide opening is formed on an inside thereoftogether with the upper wall and the bottom wall; a guide part thatextends forward from the upper wall and the guide opening; and anoptical coupler provided on an upper surface of the upper wall; theoptical coupler having a waveguide aligning part that aligns and holdsan optical waveguide, and a light direction converter; the lightdirection converter having: an entrance surface that receives incominglight from the optical waveguide that is aligned and arranged by thewaveguide aligning part; a light direction converting surface thatreceives light from the entrance surface propagated along an incomingaxis, and reflects the received light, wherein the reflected light ispropagated by the light direction converting surface along a directionconverted axis that is different from the incoming axis; and an exitsurface that receives light from the light direction converting surfaceand propagates the received light along an outgoing axis, and transmitsthe light as outgoing light emitted from the optical ferrule; theoptical ferrule having an integrated structure.

Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention provides aconnector with a housing, the housing including: a first attachingregion that holds and retains the optical waveguide, and moves insidethe housing; and an optical coupler disposed inside the housing and thatmoves inside the housing; the optical coupler including: a secondattaching region that holds and retains an optical waveguide that isheld and retained in the first attaching region; and a light directionconverting surface that receives light from the optical waveguide andconverts the direction, when an optical waveguide is held and retainedin the first attaching region and the second attaching region; whereinwhen the connector is mated to an opposing connector, the firstattaching region moves and causes the optical coupler to move.

Effect of the Invention

With the present invention, an optical ferrule includes a guide part anda guide opening configured with an integrated structure, and thereforecan easily accommodate multicore optical fibers without an associatedincrease in the number of components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an opticalferrule according to an embodiment the present invention. FIG. 2 is aperspective view illustrating a configuration of an optical ferruleaccording to an embodiment the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of applying of anoptical ferrule according to an embodiment the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view cut along line V-V in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is a diagram for describing the method of mating the opticalferrule according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a diagram for describing the method of mating the opticalferrule according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a mated condition of theoptical ferrule of an embodiment the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an alternate example of an opticalferrule according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a mated condition of theoptical connector of an embodiment the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of one of the optical connectors of FIG.10.

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of one of the optical connectors of FIG.10.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of an optical fiber unit that isassembled into the optical connector of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12B is a perspective view of an optical fiber unit assembled to theoptical connector of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section view along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 11B. FIG.14A is a perspective view of an optical fiber assembly held in a case ofthe connector of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 14B is a perspective view of an optical fiber assembly held in acase of the connector of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 15 is a view in the direction of arrow XV in FIG. 14A.

FIG. 16A is a perspective view where the right side body has beenomitted from the optical fiber assembly of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 16 B is a perspective view where the right side body has beenomitted from the optical fiber assembly of FIG. 14B.

FIG. 17 is a view in the direction of arrow XVII in FIG. 16A.

FIG. 18A is a perspective view of another optical connector of FIG. 10.

FIG. 18 B is a perspective view of another optical connector of FIG. 10.

FIG. 19 A is a perspective view of an optical fiber unit assembled intothe optical connector of FIG. 18A.

FIG. 19B is a perspective view of the optical fiber unit incorporatedinto the optical connector of FIG. 18A.

FIG. 20 is a view in the direction of arrow XX of FIG. 19B.

FIG. 21A is a perspective view where the left side body has been omittedfrom the optical fiber assembly of FIG. 19A.

FIG. 21 B is a perspective view where the left side body has beenomitted from the optical fiber assembly of FIG. 19B.

FIG. 22 is a cross-section view cut along line XXII-XXII of FIG. 18A.

FIG. 23 is a cross-section view showing the mated condition of theconnector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram schematically illustrating the function of theconnector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram schematically illustrating the function of theconnector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of FIG. 25.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of FIG. 25.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of FIG. 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An optical ferrule according to an embodiment of the present inventionis described below while referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 9. FIGS. 1 and2 are perspective views illustrating a configuration of an opticalferrule 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of using the opticalferrule 1. Note that FIG. 3 illustrates a mated state of a pair ofoptical ferrules 1 (1A and 1B). The pair of optical ferrules 1A and 1Bhave the same shape, and the optical ferrule 1 is a male-female unit inthe present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the end parts of a plurality of optical fibers2 each exposed from a fiber ribbon 3 are fixed to the pair of opticalferrules 1A and 1B, and the tip parts of the plurality of optical fibers2 are aligned and connected to each other by the pair of opticalferrules 1A and 1B. Thereby, light is transmitted in the direction ofarrow A of FIG. 3 through the first ferrule 1A on the incoming lightside and the second ferrule 1B on the outgoing light side. Note thatbelow, the front-back direction (length direction), the left-rightdirection (width direction), and the vertical direction (thicknessdirection) are defined as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and theconfiguration of each part is described in accordance with thesedefinitions as a matter of convenience. The front-back direction is thedirection in which the optical fiber 2 extends, and the left-rightdirection is the direction in which the plurality of optical fibers 2are arranged in parallel.

The optical fiber 2 has a core and cladding, and assumes a cylindricalshape with a predetermined outer diameter (for example, 125 μm). Anultraviolet curing resin (UV resin) or the like is coated on thecircumference of the optical fiber 2, and thus a fiber wire 2 a with apredetermined outer diameter (for example, 250 μm) is configured. Thefiber ribbon 3 is formed by aligning the plurality of optical fiberwires 2 a and then coating the entire circumference thereof with UVresin or the like, and in FIG. 3, the fiber ribbon 3 has four opticalfiber wires 2 a arranged in four rows in the width direction. Note thatthe assembly of the optical ferrule 1 and the fiber ribbon 3 includingthe optical fiber 2 and optical fiber wires 2 a is referred to as anoptical fiber unit 100.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical ferrule 1 has an upper wall10, a bottom wall 11 on the opposite side of the upper wall 10, and apair of side walls 12 and 13 on the left and right, facing each otherand connecting the upper wall 10 and the bottom wall 11, and the entirebody assumes a symmetrical shape. A rectangular guide opening 14 passingthrough in the front-back direction is formed on the inside of the upperwall 10, bottom wall 11, and side walls 12 and 13. A guide part 15 thatextends forward from the front end part of the guide opening 14 isprovided on the upper wall 10, and an optical coupler 20 is provided onthe upper surface of the upper wall 10.

The optical coupler 20 has an alignment part 21 that aligns and hold theoptical fibers 2, and a light direction converter 22. FIG. 4 is a viewin the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectionalview cut along line V-V in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, anexpanded part 102 that is wide in the left-right direction from thecenter portion in the front-back direction to the front end part isprovided on an upper surface 101 of the upper wall 10. A first groovepart 103 of a predetermined depth is provided on the rear end part ofthe expanded part 102, and a second groove part 104 that is deeper thanthe first groove part 103 is provided in front of the first groove part103. The light direction converter 22 is provided in front of the secondgroove part 104.

V grooves 105 in the same quantity as the optical fibers 2 are formed inthe left-right direction at equal intervals on the bottom surface of thefirst groove part 103. The depth of the V grooves 105 is shallower thanthe depth of the second groove part 104. The V grooves 105 function asthe alignment part 21, and the optical fibers 2 are positioned by the Vgrooves 105. On the tip part of the fiber ribbon 3, the coating of thefiber ribbon 3 and the coating of the fiber wires 2 a are removed, andthe optical fibers 2 are exposed. The exposed optical fibers 2 areplaced in the V grooves 105 in a state where the front end part thereofis in contact with the rear end surface 221 of the light directionconverter 22. In this state, adhesive is filled around the circumferenceof the optical fibers 2, and the optical fibers 2 are fixed on theexpanded part 102 by the adhesive. In the state where the optical fibers2 are placed and fixed, the optical fibers 2 are positioned lower thanthe upper surface 102 a of both left and right end parts of the expandedpart 102. Therefore, the maximum height of the optical fiber unit 100that attaches the optical fibers 2 to the optical ferrule 1 is regulatedby the expanded part 102.

A rear end surface 221 of the light direction converter 22 is a verticalsurface that extends in the vertical and left-right directions, andforms an entrance surface that receives incoming light from the opticalfiber 2 arranged by aligning with the V grooves 105, in other words, theincoming light in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5. A slanted surface222 that is slanted at a predetermined angle (for example, 45 degrees)toward the front is provided on the front end part of the lightdirection converter 22, and the slanted surface 222 receives light fromthe entrance surface 221 and forms a light direction converting surfacethat totally reflects the received light downward. A bottom surface 223of the light direction converter 22 below the light direction convertingsurface 222 is a flat surface that extends in the front-back andleft-right directions. The bottom surface 223 receives light from thelight direction converting surface 222 and forms an exit surface thatemits the received light from the optical ferrule 1 downward (directionof arrow B).

Note that in FIG. 5, the optical ferrule 1 was described as a firstoptical ferrule 1A (refer to FIG. 1) on the incoming light side. Incontrast, with the second optical ferrule 1B on the outgoing light side,the direction of movement is opposite from the first optical ferrule 1A,the bottom surface 223 of the optical ferrule 1 becomes an entrancesurface, and the vertical surface 221 forms the exit surface. Theentrance surface and the exit surface are perpendicular to the incidencedirection and emission direction of the light.

FIG. 6 is a view in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 1. As illustratedin FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, a left and right pair of first protruding parts153 and 154 protruding upward and downward extend in the front-backdirection on the upper surface 151 and the bottom part 152 of the guidepart 15. The first protruding part 153 and first protruding part 154 arepositioned in the same respective positions in the left-right direction.As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first protruding parts 153 and 154 assumea cross-sectional rectangular shape, and the upper surface of the firstprotruding part 153 and the bottom surface of the first protruding part154 are both flat surfaces.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 the first protruding parts 153 and 154 are bothformed with a predetermined length rearward from the front end part ofthe guide part 15. The front end parts of the first protruding parts 153and 154 are formed with a tapered shape, and a front end part 155 of theguide part 15 that is more forward than the first protruding parts 153and 154 is also formed with a tapered shape. Therefore, the length fromthe upper end surface of the first protruding part 153 to the lower endsurface of the first protruding part 154, in other words, a maximumthickness t1 of the guide part 15 is reduced toward the front endsurface of the guide part 15.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a left and right pair of secondprotruding parts 107 and 112 both protruding toward the guide opening 14extend rearward on a bottom surface 106 of the upper wall 10 and anupper surface 111 of the bottom wall 11 rearward of the guide part 15.The second protruding part 107 and the second protruding part 112 arepositioned in the same respective positions in the left-right direction,and the positions in the left-right direction match with the firstprotruding parts 153 and 154. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the secondprotruding parts 107 and 112 assume a cross-sectional triangular shape,and the cross-sectional area is reduced toward the guide opening 14. Asillustrated in FIG. 5 the second protruding part 112 on the lower sideis formed from the front end surface to the rear end surface of thebottom wall 11. On the other hand, the second protruding part 107 on theupper side is formed at a position more forward than the front endsurface of the bottom wall 11 and more rearward than the exit surface223 of the light direction converter 22 to the rear end surface of theupper wall 10, and the front end surface of the second protruding part107 is formed with a tapered shape. The length from the bottom surfaceof the second protruding part 107 to the upper surface of the secondprotruding part 112, in other words, a minimum thickness t2 of the guideopening 14 is approximately equal to the maximum thickness t1 of theguide part 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a length w1 in the left-right direction of theguide part 15 is approximately equal to a length w2 in the left-rightdirection of the guide part 14. As illustrated in FIG. 1, both left andright end surfaces of the front end part of the guide 15 are formed witha tapered shape, and the width of the guide 15 narrows toward the front.As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the front end parts of the side walls12 and 13 protrude more forward than the bottom wall 11, and the leftand right inner wall surfaces of the protruding parts 121 and 131 areformed with a tapered shape. Therefore, the length of the intervalbetween the left and right inner wall surfaces of the protruding parts121 and 131 that connect to the guide opening 14 increases toward thefront. The front end surfaces of the side walls 12 and 13 configurevertical surfaces 122 and 132 that extend in the vertical and left-rightdirections.

The aforementioned optical ferrule 1 uses resin having lighttransmissivity as a component and is integrally configured by resinmolding. In other words, the optical ferrule 1 is configured by a singlepart. Therefore, the number of parts and cost can be reduced. The matingmethod of the pair of optical ferrules 1A and 1B will be described. FIG.7A and FIG.

7B are a diagrams for describing the mating method of the opticalferrules 1A and 1B. Note that the optical ferrules 1A and 1B are matedin a state where the plurality of optical fibers 2 are fixed to each ofthe optical ferrules 1A and 1B in advance, but in FIG. 7A and 7B, anillustration of the optical fibers 2 is omitted.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the second optical ferrule 1B isinverted in the vertical direction relative to the first optical ferrule1A, and the bottom surface 152 of the guide part 15 of the first opticalferrule 1A and the bottom surface 152 of the guide part 15 of the secondoptical ferrule 1B come into mutual contact. Next, while the guide part15 of the second optical ferrule 1B slides in the length direction alongthe guide part 15 of the first optical ferrule 1A, the guide part 15 ofthe second optical ferrule 1B is inserted into the guide opening 14 ofthe first optical ferrule 1A, and the guide part 15 of the first opticalferrule 1A is inserted into the guide opening 14 of the second opticalferrule 1B, respectively.

At this time, the tip part of the guide part 15 and the entrance part ofthe guide opening 14 are formed with a tapered shape in the heightdirection and the thickness direction respectively, and therefore,insertion of the guide part 15 into the guide opening 14 is simple.After the guide part 15 is inserted, the first protruding parts 153 and154 (FIG. 6) of the guide part 15 and the second protruding parts 107and 112 (FIG. 4) of the guide opening 14 come into mutual contact, andthe first protruding parts 153 and 154 slide on top of the secondprotruding parts 107 and 112. Therefore, the frictional force wheninserting the guide part 15 is reduced, and the inserting force whenmating the first optical ferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule 1Bcan be reduced. When the guide part 15 is completely inserted into theguide opening 14, the first optical ferrule 1A and the second opticalferrule 1B are in a mated state as illustrated in FIG. 7B. In the matedstate, the end part of the guide part 15 is positioned on the inner sideof the guide opening 14 without protruding to the outside from the guideopening 14.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the mated state of the opticalferrules 1A and 1B. As illustrated in FIG. 8, in the mated state, thevertical surfaces 122 and 132 of the side walls 12 and 13 of the firstoptical ferrule 1A, and the vertical surfaces 122 and 132 of the sidewalls 12 and 13 of the second optical ferrule 1B come into mutualcontact, and the relative position in the length direction of the secondoptical ferrule 1B with regards to the first optical ferrule 1A isregulated. Furthermore, the maximum thickness t1 (FIG. 5) of the firstprotruding parts 153 and 154 of the guide part 15, and the minimumheight t2 of the second protruding parts 107 and 112 of the guideopening 14 are approximately equal, and the relative position in theheight direction of the second optical ferrule 1B with regards to thefirst optical ferrule 1A is regulated. Furthermore, the width w1 (FIG.6) of the guide part and the width w2 of the guide opening 14 areapproximately equal, and the relative position in the width direction ofthe second optical ferrule 1B with regards to the first optical ferrule1A is regulated.

By regulating the relative position in the length direction, the heightdirection, and the width direction of the second optical ferrule 1B withregards to the first optical ferrule 1A in this manner, as shown in FIG.7B, the bottom surface 223 (exit surface) of the first optical ferrule1A and the bottom surface 223 (entrance surface) of the second opticalferrule 1B can be arranged facing each other with high positionalaccuracy.

FIG. 7B also illustrates the transmission path of the light. Theincoming light entering the first optical ferrule 1A from the opticalfibers 2 through the entrance surface 221 is propagated along anincoming axis L11, and is totally reflected by the light directionconverting surface 222, thereby changing the direction. The light with achange in direction is propagated along an outgoing axis L12 for whichthe direction was converted, emitted along an outgoing axis L13 from theexit surface 223, and is transmitted to the second optical ferrule 1B asoutgoing light.

The light transmitted to the second optical ferrule 1B through theentrance surface 223 is propagated along an incoming axis L21, and istotally reflected by the light direction converting surface 222, therebychanging the direction. The light with a change in direction ispropagated along a direction converted axis L22, emitted along anoutgoing axis L23 from the exit surface 221, and is transmitted to theoptical fibers 2 as outgoing light. At this time, the outgoing axis L13where the first optical ferrule 1A emits light and the incoming axis L21where the second optical ferrule 1B receives light are the same axis,and therefore, transmission loss of the light at the connection surfaceof the optical ferrules 1A and 1B can be reduced.

The optical ferrule of the present embodiment can provide the followingeffects.

-   (1) The optical ferrule 1 provides: an upper wall 10; a bottom wall    11; a pair of facing side walls 12 and 13 that are connected to the    upper wall 10 and the bottom wall 11 such that a guide opening 14 is    formed on the inner side together with the upper wall 10 and the    bottom wall 11; a guide part 15 that extends forward from the upper    wall 10 and the guide opening 14; and an optical coupler 20 that is    located on the upper surface of the upper wall 10. The optical    coupler 20 has an alignment part 21 that aligns and hold the optical    fibers 2, and a light direction converter 22. The light direction    converter 22 has an entrance surface 221 or 223 that receives    incoming light from the optical fibers 2 that are aligned and    positioned by the alignment part 21; a light direction converting    surface 222 that receives the light propagated along the incoming    axis L11 or L21 from the entrance surface 221 or 223, and then    reflects the received light; and an exit surface 223 or 221 that    receives the light from the light direction converting surface 222,    propagates the received light along the outgoing axis L13 or L23,    and then transmits the light as outgoing light emitted from the    optical ferrule 1A or 1B. The optical ferrules 1A and 1B have an    integrated structure.

Therefore, the optical ferrule 1 does not require a mating pin or matinghole that is required by MT ferrules, and also does not requireinstallation space therefor. Therefore, multicore optical fibers can beeasily realized without increasing the number of parts.

-   (2) The pair of optical ferrules 1A and 1B that are mated together    are male-female units. Therefore, the parts can be commonized, and    the cost can be reduced.-   (3) The optical ferrule 1 provides: first protruding parts 153 and    154 that protrude from the upper surface 151 and the bottom surface    152 of the guide part 15, and extend along the length direction of    the optical ferrule 1; and second protruding parts 107 and 112 that    protrude from the bottom surface 106 of the upper wall 10 and the    upper surface 111 of the bottom wall 11, and extend along the length    direction of the optical ferrule 1 toward the guide opening 14.    Therefore, of the upper and lower surfaces of the guide part 15 and    the upper and lower surfaces of the guide opening 14, only the first    protruding parts 153 and 154 and the second protruding parts 107 and    112 are required to be processed with high accuracy, and thus the    processing cost can be reduced.-   (4) One of the optical ferrules 1A was made to mate along a mating    direction parallel to the length direction of the other optical    ferrule 1B, and therefore, the optical fibers 2 that extend in the    length direction of the optical ferrules 1A and 1B can be connected    in an approximately linear state.-   (5) The guide parts 15 of the first optical ferrule 1A and the    second optical ferrule 1B are both inserted on the inner side of the    guide openings 14 of the opposing first optical ferrule 1A and    second optical ferrule 1B respectively, and therefore, the first    optical ferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule 1B can be easily    mated.-   (6) When the first optical ferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule    1B are mated, the first protruding parts 153 and 154 of the first    optical ferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule 1B are connected    to the second protruding parts 107 and 112 of the opposing first    optical ferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule 1B so as to slide,    and therefore, the contact area of the guide part 15 and the guide    opening 14 is reduced, and insertion of the guide part 15 into the    guide opening 14 is easy. The first protruding parts 153 and 154 are    formed with a cross-sectional rectangular shape, and the second    protruding parts 107 and 112 are formed with a cross-sectional    triangular shape, and therefore, the guide part 15 and the guide    opening 14 are in linear contact at two left and right points, and    while the contact area is reduced, the guide part 15 can be    stabilized and supported within the guide opening 14.

Note that with the embodiment, the waveguide alignment part (alignmentpart 21) that aligns and contains the optical fibers 2 as an opticalwaveguide is configured by the V grooves 105, but the configuration ofthe waveguide alignment part is not restricted thereto. With theembodiment, the direction in which the light reflected by the lightdirection converting surface 22 propagates through the optical ferrule 1(direction of the direction converted axis), and the direction that theoutgoing light is emitted from the optical ferrule 1 (direction of theoutgoing axis) are the same, but as long as the reflected light ispropagated in a different direction than the direction that the lightthat enters the optical ferrule 1 is propagated (direction of theincoming axis), the direction of the direction converted axis can bedifferent from the direction of the outgoing axis. With the embodiment,the surface of the inner wall in the left-right direction of theprotruding parts 121 and 131 on the entrance side of the guide opening14 is formed with a tapered shape (FIG. 2), but as illustrated in FIG.9, the surface of the inner wall in the vertical directions of theentrance side of the guide opening 14 can be formed with a taperedshape. Thereby, mating of the first optical ferrule 1A and the secondoptical ferrule 1B becomes even easier.

Next, the optical connector according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is described while referring to FIG. 10 through FIG. 29. FIG.10 is a perspective view illustrating the mated state of the opticalconnectors (first optical connector 5 and second optical connector 6)according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that below,the front-back direction, the left-right direction, and verticaldirection are defined as illustrated by the drawings, and theconfiguration of each part is described in accordance with thesedefinitions as a matter of convenience. The vertical direction is themating direction of optical connectors 5 and 6.

The first optical connector 5 is attached to a first substrate 7 thatextends in the front-back and left-right directions, and the secondoptical connector 6 is attached to a second substrate 8 that extends inthe vertical and left-right directions. A tip part of a plurality ofoptical fiber units 100 (FIG. 3) that extend in the vertical direction,in other words, a tip part of the optical fiber units 100 having theaforementioned first optical ferrule 1A is disposed on the first opticalconnector 5. A tip part of the plurality of optical fiber units 100 thatextend in the vertical direction, in other words, a tip part of theoptical fiber units 100 having the aforementioned second optical ferrule1B is disposed on the second optical connector 6. When the first opticalconnector 5 and the second optical connector 6 are mated, the firstoptical ferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule 1B are mated, and thetip parts of the optical fiber units 100 on the first optical connectorside and the optical fiber units 100 on the second optical connectorside are connected.

First, the configuration of the first optical connector 5 is described.FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are respective perspective views of the firstoptical connector 5. The first optical connector 5 has a first case 50that is attached to the first substrate 7 by passing through the firstsubstrate 7, and a plurality of optical fiber assemblies 51 that arehoused in the first case 50. The optical fiber assemblies 51 have fourrows of optical fiber units 100 in the front-back direction, and fourrows of the optical fiber assemblies 51 in the left-right direction aredisposed in the first case 50.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are each perspective views of the optical fiberunit 100. Note that the optical fiber units 100 on the first opticalconnector 5 side and the optical fiber units 100 on the second opticalconnector 6 side have the same shape. As illustrated in FIG. 12A andFIG. 12B, a securement member 4 that is configured by resin molding isfixed at a position that is separated only at a predetermined distancefrom the optical ferrules (1A and 1B) on one surface of a plurality offiber ribbons 3. The securement member 4 extends parallel to the widthdirection of the optical ferrule 1. A pair of receiving grooves 42 areformed in the width direction on a surface 41 facing the fiber ribbons 3of the securement member 4, and engaging grooves 43 that are parallelwith the receiving grooves 42 are formed on both sides in the widthdirection of the receiving grooves 42. A pair of fiber ribbons 3 arecontained in each of the receiving grooves 42, and the fiber ribbons 3are fixed to the securement member 4 by an adhesive. Another surface 44of the securement member 4 is flat.

As illustrated in FIG. 11A, the first case 50 has a front wall 501, arear wall 502, and left and right side walls 503 and 504 that connectboth left and right end parts of the front wall 501 and both left andright end parts of the rear wall 502, and is made by resin molding. Thefront wall 501, the rear wall 502, and the side walls 503 and 504 extendrespectively in the vertical direction, and the first case 50 assumes aframe shape where the upper surface and the lower surface are open. Aholding space SP10 for holding the optical fiber assemblies 51 is formedon the inner part of the first case 50. The first case 50 has a centerwall 505 that connects the left and right center part of the front wall501 and the left and right center part of the rear wall 502, and theholding space SP10 is divided in two in the left-right directions by thecenter wall 505. A guide pin 506 and a latch 507 protrude upward on theupper surface of the center wall 505. The upper surface of the centerwall 505 is positioned more downward than the upper surfaces of thefront wall 501 and the rear wall 502, and the bottom surface of thecenter wall 505 is positioned more upward than the bottom surfaces ofthe front wall 501 and the rear wall 502. A cutaway is provided facingdownward in the left-right direction of the center part on the uppersurface of the front wall 501, and a concave part 505 a is formed by thecutaway on the front side of the center wall 505.

Collar parts 508 and 509 protruding to the outside in the left-rightdirection of the center part in the front-back direction arerespectively provided on the left surface of the side wall 503 and theright surface of the side wall 504. An opening part 70 corresponding tothe external shape of the first case 50 is provided on the firstsubstrate 7, the lower end part of the first case 50 passes through theopening part 70, and the bottom surface of the first case 50 protrudesmore downward than the bottom surface of the first substrate 7. Screwholes 71 and 72 are formed around the opening part 70. The screw hole 71is provided near the corner of the first case 50, and the screw hole 72is provided in front and behind the center wall 505 of the first case50.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view along line XIII-XIII of FIG. 11B. Asillustrated in FIG. 11B and FIG. 13, a slit 500 a is provided on thebottom surface of the first case 50, and a metal plate 500 is press fitin the slit 500 a. Note that in FIG. 11B, an illustration of the rightside of the plate 500 is omitted. The plate 500 extends parallel to theopening of the bottom surface of the first case 50, and the front endpart and the rear end part of the opening of the bottom surface of thefirst case 50 are blocked by the plate 500. A concave part 500 b isformed on the upper surface of the plate 500.

A metal supporting plate 73 is attached to the bottom surface of thefirst substrate 7. The supporting plate 73 is fixed to the firstsubstrate 7 by a screw (not illustrated) that screws into the screw hole71. The supporting plate 73 has a rectangular opening 730, and the firstcase 50 is disposed on the inner side of the opening 730. Respectiverotating supporting members 74 are disposed in front and behind thecenter wall 505 of the first case 50. The rotating supporting member 74has a flange part 741 and an arm part 742, and is made of resin molding.

The flange part 741 of the rotating supporting member 74 is fixed to thefirst substrate 7 with the supporting plate 73 interposed therebetweenby a screw (not illustrated) that is screwed in the screw hole 72. Thearm part 742 extends from the flange part 741 over the bottom surface ofthe first case 50 to the bottom surface of the center wall 505. In otherwords, the arm part extends such that the front and rear surfaces of thefront wall 501 and the front and rear surfaces of the rear wall 502 ofthe first case 50 are respectively interposed. A pin 743 passes throughthe front wall 501 and the arm part 742 of the rotating supportingmember 74 on the front side, and passes through the rear wall 502 andthe arm part 742 of the rotating supporting member 74 on the rear side,in the front-back direction. Therefore, the lower end part of the firstcase 50 is supported in a manner that can tilt from the first substrate7 with the pin 743 acting as a fulcrum.

Both left and right end parts of the supporting plate 73 are bentdownward away from the bottom surface of the first substrate 7 in thefront-back direction of the center part, and a spring shoe 731 is fixedto the upper surface of the supporting plate 73. A coil spring (notillustrated) is interposed between the spring shoe 731 and the collarparts 508 and 509 of the first case 50. Therefore, the elastic force dueto the coil spring is applied to both left and right end parts of thefirst case 50 from the first substrate 7 through the collar parts 508and 509 and the supporting plate 73, and the first case 50 iselastically supported in a manner that can tilt from the first substrate7 by a floating mechanism.

FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are respective perspectives views of the opticalfiber assembly 51 that is housed in the first case 50. The optical fiberassembly 51 contains: a left and right pair of bodies 52 that enclosefour sets of optical fiber units 100; a left and right pair of platemembers 53 that are respectively fixed to the lower end parts of theleft and right pair of bodies 52; and a front and rear pair of springshoes 54 that are attached to both front and rear end parts of the platemembers 53. The body 52 on the right side and the body 52 on the leftside, as well as the plate member 53 on the right side and the platemember 53 on the left side are symmetrical to each other on the left andright. The spring shoe 54 on the front side and the spring shoe 54 onthe rear side are symmetrical in the front and back. The bodies 52 andthe spring shoes 54 are made by resin molding. The plate member 53 ismade of a metal plate. FIG. 15 is a view (plan view) in the direction ofarrow XV of FIG. 14. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the body 52 has a frontwall 521, a rear wall 522, and a side wall 523 that connects the frontwall 521 and the rear wall 522, and assumes a C-shape from a plan view.As illustrated in FIG. 14A, protruding parts 524 and 525 that protrudemore upward than the side wall 523 are formed on the upper end part ofthe front wall 521 and the upper end part of the rear wall 522. Theprotruding part 524 has increased thickness and rigidity toward thefront. The protruding part 524 protrudes further upward than theprotruding part 525 (refer to FIG. 13).

FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are respective perspective views that omit theright side body 52 from the optical fiber assembly 51 of FIG. 14A andFIG. 14B, and FIG. 17 is a view (front surface view) in the direction ofarrow XVII of FIG. 16A. As illustrated in FIG. 17, a protruding part 526that protrudes forward is provided on the front surface of the frontwall 521 of the body 52. An engaging groove 526 a is formed on thecircumference surface of the protruding part 526 (right end surface andlower end surface of the protruding part 526 of the body 52 on the rightside, and the left end surface and the lower end surface of theprotruding part 526 of the body 52 on the left side). A U-shaped clip 57made from a metal plate of a predetermined thickness is engaged from thelower side in the engaging grooves 526 a of the left and right bodies52, and the front end parts of the left and right bodies 52 areconnected through the clip 57.

As illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16A, a protruding part 527 thatprotrudes forward is provided on the front surface of the rear wall 522of the body 52. An engaging groove 527 a is formed on the circumferencesurface of the protruding part 527 (right end surface and lower endsurface of the protruding part 527 of the body 52 on the right side, andthe left end surface and the lower end surface of the protruding part527 of the body 52 on the left side). A U-shaped clip 58 made from ametal plate of a predetermined thickness is engaged from the lower sidein the engaging grooves 527 a of the left and right bodies 52, and therear end parts of the left and right bodies 52 are connected through theclip 58. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 15, a holding space SP11 ofthe optical fiber units 100 is formed on the inner side of the left andright bodies 52. Note that the clip 57 and the clip 58 have the sameshape.

A plurality of position regulating parts 528 that protrude toward theholding space SP11 are provided at equal intervals in the front backdirection on the inner wall surface of the side wall 523 of the body 52.The front end surfaces (both left and right end parts of the upper wall10 in FIG. 1) of the optical ferrule 1 are respectively in contact withthe position regulating part 528, and a gap CL1 is provided between therear end surface of the optical ferrule 1 and the position regulatingpart 528 to the back thereof. Thereby, the optical ferrule 1 can bemoved rearward.

As illustrated in FIG. 16A, of the four rows of optical fiber units 100in the front-back direction, the securement member 4 is fixed on therear end surface of the fiber ribbons 3 for the first and third rows ofoptical fiber units 100 a and 100 c, and the securement member 4 isfixed on the front end surface of the fiber ribbons 3 for the second andfourth rows of optical fiber units 100 b and 100 d. Therefore, the flatsurfaces 44 of the first and second rows of optical fiber units 100 aand 100 b face each other, and the flat surfaces 44 of the third andfourth rows of optical fibers units 100 c and 100 d face each other.

A front and rear pair of grooves with bottoms 531 and 532 are formedfacing downward on the upper end surface of the plate member 53. The endpart of the securement members 4 of the optical ferrule units 100 a and100 b, in other words, the engaging groove 43 in FIG. 12A is insertedfrom above into the groove with bottom 531 on the front side, and theengaging grooves 43 of the optical ferrule units 100 a and 100 b arerespectively engaged in the front wall and the rear wall of the groovewith bottom 531. Similarly, the end parts (engaging groove 43) of thesecurement members 4 of the optical ferrule units 100 c and 100 d areinserted from above into the groove with bottom 532 on the rear side,and the engaging grooves 43 of the optical ferrule units 100 c and 100 dare respectively engaged in the front wall and the rear wall of thegroove with bottom 532. Thereby, the securement members 4 of the opticalferrule units 100 a through 100 d are fixed to the plate member 53.

The plate member 53 protrudes upward between the grooves with bottom 531and 532 and behind the groove with bottom 532, and through holes 533 and534 are opened on the protruding part. An illustration is omitted, but aconvex part is provided corresponding to the through holes 533 and 534on the inner wall surface of the side wall 523 of the body 52. Theconvex part of the body 52 is mated to the through holes 533 and 534 ofthe left and right plate members 53 from the outside on the left andright, and the left and right bodies 52 are fixed to the left and rightplate members 53 by engaging the clips 57 and 58 from below. The frontend part and the rear end part of the plate member 53 protrude furtherforward and rearward than the front wall 521 and the rear wall 522 ofthe body 52. Engaging grooves 535 are formed facing rearward and forwardrespectively on the front end surface and the rear end surface of theprotruding part. As illustrated in FIG. 16B, circular concave parts 540are formed on the left and right of the center part on the bottomsurface of the spring shoe 54. A protruding part 541 that protrudes inthe left-right direction corresponding to the engaging groove 535 of theplate member 53 is provided on both left and right end parts of thespring shoe 54. The plate member 53 and the spring shoe 54 areintegrated by engaging the protruding part 541 of the spring shoe 54from the outside in the left-right directions to the groove with bottom535. Thereby, the optical fiber assemblies 51 can be assembled.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, respective step parts 50 a are provided onthe rear surface of the front wall 501 and the front surface of the rearwall 502 of the first case 50, and the length in the front-backdirection of the holding space SP10 is reduced on the upward side morethan the step part 50 a. The distance from the rear end surface of thestep part 50 a on the front side to the front end surface of the steppart 50 a on the rear side is equal to the distance from the front endsurface to the rear end surface of the body 52 of the optical fiberassembly 51. Therefore, the position in the front-back direction of thebody 52 in the first case 50 is regulated.

Note that an illustration is omitted, but respective step parts 50 a arealso provided on the right surface of the side wall 503 and the leftsurface of the side wall 504 of the first case 5, and are joined to thestep parts 50 a of the front wall 501 and the rear wall 502. Thedistance from the step part 50 a of the side walls 503 and 504 to theleft and right inner side surfaces of the center wall 505 is equal tothe distance between the left and right outer side surfaces of a pair ofoptical fiber assemblies 51 when the pair of optical fiber assemblies 51is disposed on the left and right between the side walls 503 and 504 andthe center wall 505 as illustrated in FIG. 11A. Thereby, the position inthe left-right direction of the body 52 in the first case 50 isregulated.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, a coil spring 59 is interposed between aconcave part 540 on the bottom surface of the spring shoe 54 of theoptical fiber assembly 51, and a concave part 50 b of a plate 500 thatis mounted on the bottom surface of the first case 50, and the opticalfiber assembly 51 can be raised and lowered against the biasing force ofthe coil spring 59. FIG. 13 illustrates a position of the optical fiberassembly 51 after mating the first optical connector 5 to the secondoptical connector 6, and the spring shoe 54 is positioned lower than thebottom surface 50 b of the step part 50 a. Before mating the firstoptical connector 5, the spring shoe 54 is biased upward by the spring59, and contacts the bottom surface 50 b of the step part 50 a.Therefore, upward movement of the optical fiber assembly 51 isrestricted, and the maximum raised position of the optical fiberassembly 51 in the first case 50 is regulated.

Next, the configuration of the second optical connector 6 is described.FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B are perspective views of the second opticalconnectors 6. The second optical connector 6 has a second case 60attached to a second substrate 8, and a plurality of optical fiberassemblies 61 that are housed in the second case 60. The optical fiberassemblies 61 have four rows of optical fiber units 100 in thefront-back direction, and four rows of optical fiber assemblies 61 aredisposed in the left-right direction in the second case 60.

The second case 60 has a front wall 601, a rear wall 602, and left andright side walls 603 and 604 that connect both left and right end partsof the front wall 601 and both left and right end parts of the rear wall602, and is made by resin molding The front wall 601, the rear wall 602,and the side walls 603 and 604 respectively extend in the verticaldirection, and the second case 60 assumes a frame shape where the uppersurface and the lower surface are open. A holding space SP20 for holdingthe optical fiber assemblies 61 is formed on the inner part of thesecond case 60. A left and right pair of covers 60 a are mounted on theupper surface of the second case 60, and the optical fiber unit 100extends upward passing through the cover 60 a.

The second case 60 has a center wall 605 that connects the left andright center part of the front wall 601 and the left and right centerpart of the rear wall 602, and the holding space SP20 is divided in twoin the left-right directions by the center wall 605. A pin hole 606 thatengages the guide pin 506 (FIG. 11A) of the first case 50, and a latchhole 607 that engages the latch 507 (FIG. 11A) are drilled in the lowersurface of the center wall 605. Flange parts 608 and 609 protruderespectively in the left and right directions on the rear end and upperend parts of the side walls 603 and 604, and the second case 60 isfastened to the second substrate 8 by a bolt that passes through theflange parts 608 and 609.

A rectangular through hole 60 b is formed on the front wall 601 and therear wall 602, corresponding to the position of slanted parts 67 a and68 a (FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B) of the clips 67 and 68 of the optical fiberassembly 61. A long narrow guide part 610 with a constant width in theleft-right direction extends in the vertical direction to the frontsurface of the front wall 601. The lower end part of the guide part 610protrudes further downward than the lower end surface of the front wall601 (refer to FIG. 22). The length in the front-back direction of thelower end part of the outer wall surface of the second case 60 isshorter than the length in the front-back direction of the inner wallsurface above the first case 50, and the length in the left-rightdirection of the lower end part of the outer wall surface of the secondcase 60 is shorter than the length in the left-right direction of theinner wall surface of the first case 50.

Therefore, the second case 60 can be inserted in the first case 50, andas illustrated in FIG. 10, when the lower end part of the second case 60is inserted in the first case 50, a guide part 610 of the second case 60is inserted in the concave part 505 a of the first case. At the sametime, the guide pin 506 of the first case 50 is inserted in the pin hole606 of the second case 60, and the second case 60 is positioned in thefirst case 50. Furthermore, the latch 507 of the first case 50 isengaged in the latch hole 607 of the second case 60, and the second case60 is connected to the first case 50.

FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B are respective perspective views of the opticalfiber assembly 61 that is housed in the second case 60. The opticalfiber assembly 61 contains: a left and right pair of bodies 62 thatenclose four optical fiber units 100; a plate member 63 that is fixed tothe upper end part of the left and right pair of bodies 62; a platespring member 64 that is supported on the rear end part of the left andright pair of bodies 62; and a pressing member 65 that is supported onthe front end part of the left and right pair of bodies 62. The body 62on the right side and the body 62 on the left side are symmetrical toeach other on the left and right. The plate member 63, the plate springmember 64, and the pressing member 65 are symmetrical to each other onthe left and right. The body 62 and the pressing member 65 are made byresin molding. The plate member 63 and the plate spring member 64 aremade of a metal plate.

FIG. 20 is a view (plan view) in the direction of arrow XX of FIG. 19B.As illustrated in FIG. 20, the body 62 has a front wall 621, a rear wall622, and a side wall 623 that connects the front wall 621 and the rearwall 622, and assumes a C-shape from a plan view. As illustrated in FIG.19B and FIG. 20, a protruding part 626 that protrudes forward isprovided on the front surface of the front wall 621. An engaging groove626 a is formed on the circumference surface of the protruding part 626(right end surface and lower end surface of the protruding part 626 ofthe body 62 on the right side, and the left end surface and the lowerend surface of the protruding part 626 of the body 62 on the left side).A U-shaped clip 67 made from a metal plate of a predetermined thicknessis engaged downward in the engaging grooves 626 a of the left and rightbodies 62, and the front end parts of the left and right bodies 62 areconnected through the clip 67. A slanted part 67 a that protrudesforward at a slant is provided on both left and right end parts of theclip 67.

As illustrated in FIG. 19A and FIG. 20, a protruding part 627 thatprotrudes rearward is provided on the rear surface of the rear wall 622.An engaging groove 627 a is formed on the circumference surface of theprotruding part 627 (right end surface and lower end surface of theprotruding part 627 of the body 62 on the right side, and the left endsurface and the lower end surface of the protruding part 627 of the body62 on the left side). A U-shaped clip 68 made from a metal plate of apredetermined thickness is engaged downward in the engaging grooves 627a of the left and right bodies 62, and the rear end parts of the leftand right bodies 62 are connected through the clip 68. A slanted part 68a that protrudes rearward at a slant is provided on both left and rightend parts of the clip 68. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 20, theholding space SP21 of the optical fiber units 100 is formed on the innerside of the left and right bodies 62. Note that the clip 67 and the clip68 have the same shape.

A plurality of position regulating parts 628 that protrude toward theholding space SP21 are provided at equal intervals in the front backdirection on the inner wall surface of the side wall 623 of the body 62.The front end surface (both left and right end parts of the upper wall10 in FIG. 10) of the optical ferrule 1 are in contact with the positionregulating part 228, and a gap CL2 is provided between the rear endsurface of the optical ferrule 1 and the position regulating part 628 tothe back thereof.

Thereby, the optical ferrule 1 can be moved rearward. A partition wall629 protrudes in the left-right direction on the inner side from theposition regulating part 628 of the foremost part, and a holding spaceSP22 is formed between the partition wall 629 and the front wall 621.The pressing member 65 is housed in the holding space SP22.

FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B are respective perspective views that omit theleft side body 62 from the optical fiber assembly 61 of FIG. 19A andFIG. 19B. As illustrated in FIG. 21B, the protruding part 65 a protrudeson both left and right end parts of the pressing member 65. Asillustrated in FIG. 20, a stopper part 629 a is formed facing the upperend surface of the protruding part 65 a between the front wall 621 andpartition wall 629 of the body 62. Upward movement of the pressingmember 65 is limited due to the protruding part 65 a contacting thestopper 629 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 21A, the plate spring member 64 has a rectangularbase part 641, and an arm part 642 that extends at an angle forward andupward from the base part 641, and an arc shaped pressing part 643 isformed on the tip of the arm part 642. The arm part 642 includes a pairof left and right beam members for increasing the spring properties.Although an illustration is omitted, a concave part that mates with theupper and lower angle part of the right side and the upper and lowerangle part of the left side of the base part 641 is formed in the rearwall 622 of the left and right bodies 62. Therefore, when the left andright bodies 62 are joined, the angle part of the base part 641 mateswith the concave part, and the base part 641 is secured to the rear wall622. At this time, the pressing part 643 of the plate spring member 64applies a bias in the forward direction on the back end surface of thesecurement member 4 of the optical ferrule unit 100. Therefore, asillustrated in FIG. 20, the optical ferrule 1 is pushed forward, andcontacts the position regulating part 628.

As illustrated in FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B, the plate material 63 has leftand right side walls 631 and 632 and a front wall 633 that is connectedto the front end part of the left and right side walls 631 and 632. Thelower end surfaces of the side walls 631 and 632 are provided withgrooves with bottoms 635 and 636 similar to the optical fiber assembly51 (FIG. 16A) of the first optical connector 5. The engaging groove 43of the securement member 4 of the optical ferrule unit 100 (FIG. 12B)engages with the front wall and the rear wall of the grooves withbottoms 635 and 636, and the securement member 4 of the optical ferruleunit 100 is secured to the plate member 63. A front and back pair ofsemicircular shaped protruding parts 637 are provided on the upper endsurface of the side walls 631 and 632. A slanted part 634 that slantsupward and backward extends from the upper end surface of the front wall633 of the plate member 63. A lower end surface of a pressing member 65abuts the upper surface of the slanted part 634.

The plate member 63 protrudes upward between the grooves with bottoms631 and 632, and an elongated hole 633 elongated in the front and backdirection is formed in the protruding part. A convex part 625 (FIG. 22)corresponding to the elongated hole 633 is provided in the side wallsurface of the side wall 623 of the body 62. The height in the verticaldirection of the convex part 625 is almost equal to the height of theelongated hole 633, and the length in the front back direction of theconvex part 625 is shorter than the length of the elongated hole 633.When the left and right bodies 62 are linked by clips 67 and 68, theconvex part 625 of the body 62 mates with the elongated holes 633 of theleft and right plate members 63 from the outer sides in the left andright direction. The concave part 625 can slide in the front and backdirection along the elongated hole 633, and therefore the left and rightbodies 62 are connected so as to be moveable in the front and backdirection to the plate member 63. Thereby the optical fiber assembly 61is assembled.

FIG. 22 is a cross-section view cut along line XXII-XXII in FIG. 18A. Asillustrated in FIG. 22, step parts 601 a and 602 a are provided on thefront surface of the rear wall 602 and the back surface of the frontwall 601 of the second case 60, and the length in the front and backdirection of the holding space SP20 is narrower toward the bottom of thestep parts 601 a and 602 a. When the optical fiber assembly 61 isinserted from above the second case 60, the lower end surface of theprotruding parts 626 and 627 will abut the upper surface of the stepparts 601 a and 602 a, and thus downward movement of the optical fiberassembly 61 is limited. At this time, the tips of the slanted parts 67 aand 68 a of the clips 67 and 68 are inserted into the opening part 60 b(FIG. 18B) of the optical connectors 60, and thus upward movement of theoptical fiber assembly 61 is also limited.

The length from the front end surface to the back end surface of thebody 62 of the optical fiber assembly 61 is equal to the length from theback surface of the front wall 601 to the front surface of the rear wall602 of the second case 60 above the step parts 601 a and 602 a. Thereby,the position of the body 62 in the second case 60 is regulated. In thiscase, the convex part 625 of the body 62 mates with the elongated hole633 in the front and back direction of the plate member 63, and theplate member 63 can move back against the biasing force of the platespring member 64 while the protruding part 637 of the upper end surfaceof abuts the bottom surface of the cover 60 a. Note that as illustratedin FIG. 18A, when the pair of optical fiber assemblies 61 is positionedbetween the side walls 603 and 604 and the center wall 605 of the secondcase 60, the distance between the left and right outer side surfaces ofthe pair of optical fiber assemblies 61 is equal to the distance fromthe left right inner side surfaces of the side walls 603 and 604 of thesecond case 60 to the center wall 605. Therefore, the position in theleft and right direction of the body 62 in the second case 60 isregulated. The action when mating the optical connectors 5 and 6 will bedescribed. For example, when the second optical connector 6 is pressedto the first optical connector 5, the position is determined by theguide pin 506 (FIG. 11A) and the guide part 610 (FIG. 18A), while at thesame time, as illustrated in FIG. 23, the protruding part 524 on thefront wall upper end part of the body 52 of the first optical connector5 is inserted into the holding space SP22 of the back part of the frontwall of the body 62 of the second optical connector 6, and the tip ofthe protruding part 524 contacts the lower end part of the pressingmember 65. When the second optical connector 6 is pressed further, theprotruding part 524 presses the pressing member 65 upward, and thus apushing force in the back direction is applied to the plate member 63through the slanted part 634. Therefore, the plate member 63 movesrearward against the biasing force of the plate spring member 64, and inconjunction, the securement member 4 of the optical fiber unit 100 isalso moved rearward.

The first optical ferrule 1A can move in the front and back direction inthe holding space SP11 of the body 52, and the second ferrule 1B canmove in the front and back direction in the holding space SP21 of thebody 62. As a result, the mating profile between the first opticalferrule 1A that is assembled into the first optical connector 5 and thesecond optical ferrule 1B that is assembled into the second opticalconnector 6 will be at a slant. In other words, the first opticalferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule 1B mutually extend in thevertical direction and begin to mate, but as mating progresses, thesecurement member 4 on the second optical ferrule 1B side will moverearward, and the optical ferrule unit 100 (fiber ribbon 3) will becomea point of support for the securement member 4 and will deform (bend),and thus the first optical ferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule 1Bwill slant while maintaining the mating profile (first slant). Even ifthe first optical ferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule 1B arecompletely mated, the second optical connector 6 will be pressed untilthe latch 507 of the first optical connector 5 engages with the latchhole 607 of the second optical connector 6, the optical ferrule unit 100will further deform as a point of support for the securement member 4,and the first optical ferrule 1A and the second optical ferrule 1B willslant further while maintaining the mating profile (second slant).

In this manner, an elastic force (reaction force of deformation) acts ina direction that pushes the first optical ferrule 1A and the secondoptical ferrule 1B together because the optical ferrule unit 100 isdeformed by the first slant and the second slant of the optical ferrules1A and 1B. Therefore, stable light transmission characteristics can bemaintained between the optical ferrules 1A and 1B, even with the effectsof vibration and the like. In this case, the optical connectors 5 and 6are pressed while the optical ferrules 1A and 1B are slanting, so themating force of the optical connectors 5 and 6 can be reduced. In otherwords, when the optical connectors 5 and 6 are mated in a conditionwhere the optical ferrules 1A and 1B are not slanted, an extremely largeforce will act in order to bend the optical ferrule unit 100. Incontrast, with the present embodiment, the optical connector is matedwhile the optical ferrule is slanted, and thus the force that bends theoptical ferrule unit 100 can be reduced.

Furthermore, with the present embodiment in the initial condition, theoptical ferrules 1A and 1B are mated in the vertical direction, andtherefore the mating direction of the optical connectors 5 and 6 and themating direction of the optical ferrules 1A and 1B are the same, andthus the optical ferrules 1A and 1B can easily be aligned. In contrast,if the optical ferrules 1A and 1B are not slanted from the beginning,the mating direction of the optical ferrules 1A and 1B will not matchthe mating direction of the optical connectors 5 and 6, and thereforethe aligning of the optical ferrules 1A and 1B will be difficult.

With the present embodiment, the center part in the left and rightdirection of the first case 50 is supported so as to be able to tiltwith regards to the first substrate 7 by a pin 743 that extends in thefront and back direction, and both end parts in the left and rightdirection of the first case 50 are elastically supported by the firstsubstrate 7 via a coil spring. In other words, the first case 50 issupported by the first substrate 7 through a floating mechanism.Therefore, positional shifting can be absorbed when mating the opticalconnectors 5 and 6, and thus the mating operation is easy.

The effect of the aforementioned action of the optical connectors 5 and6 is described using conceptual diagrams. FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 arediagrams conceptually illustrating an initial mating state and a finalmating state of the optical connectors 5 and 6. As illustrated in FIG.24, in the initial mating state, the mating direction of the firstoptical connector 5 and the second optical connector 6 matches themating direction of the first optical ferrule 1A and the second opticalferrule 1B. As illustrated in FIG. 25, in the final mating state, thepressing member 65 is pressed by the protruding part 524 of the body 52,and the securement member 4 moves in the direction of arrow A, or inother words in the perpendicular direction with regards to the matingdirection of the optical connectors 5 and 6, together with the platemember 63 against the spring force of the plate spring member 64.Therefore, the optical ferrules 1A and 1B slant relative to the matingdirection of the optical connectors 4 and 5, and the fiber ribbon 3, orin other words the optical fiber 2 is deformed (bent), and thus a forcethat causes mutual contact acts on the contact surfaces of the opticalferrules 1A and 1B.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of FIG. 24. In FIG.26, an elastic reinforcing member 3 a is attached to the opticalferrules 1A and 1B and the fiber ribbon 3. Therefore, even if theoptical connectors 5 and 6 are used for a long period of time and theelastic force of the fiber ribbon 3 is reduced, a stable contact forcecan be maintained between the optical ferrules 1A and 1B, and thedurability of the optical connectors 5 and 6 can be enhanced. Thecross-sectional shape of the elastic reinforcing member 3 a in this casecan be a variety of shapes. For example, a semicircular curve shape isacceptable. Note that the elastic reinforcing member 3 a can be attachedto only the optical ferrule 1 or to only the fiber ribbon 3.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of FIG. 25. In FIG.27, the protruding part 524 of the body 52 also acts as a guide pin, andthus the guide pin 506 is omitted. The protruding part 524 abuts theslanted part 624 of the plate member 63, and moves the plate member 63in the direction of arrow A without using the pressing member 65.Furthermore, in FIG. 27, the plate member 530 a of the optical connector5 is provided so as to be able to slide, similar to optical connector 6,and thus a new plate spring member 540 a is provided. Furthermore, aprotruding part 624 similar to that of the optical connector 5 isprovided on the body 62 of the optical connector 6. Therefore, when theoptical connectors 5 and 6 are mated, the plate member 63 moves in thedirection of arrow A, and the plate member 530 a moves in the directionof arrow B that is opposite the direction of arrow A. In other words,both of the plate members move in opposite directions.

Note that in the example of FIG. 25, similar to FIG. 27, the protrudingpart 524 extends in the longitudinal direction, and thus the guide pin506 and the pressing member 65 can be omitted. Furthermore, similar toFIG. 27, a configuration where the plate member 53 can slide is alsopossible.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of FIG. 25.In FIG. 28, angle members 5 b and 6 b are provided on the bodies 52 and62 of the optical connectors 5 and 6, and the fiber ribbon 3 extends ata predetermined angle with regards to the mating direction of theoptical connectors 5 and 6. Furthermore, guide parts 5C and 6C thatprevent tilting of the optical ferrules 1A and 1B are provided in thearea of the optical ferrules 1A and 1B. In other words, FIG. 28illustrates a configuration where a bend occurs in the fiber ribbon 3prior to mating. Note that in FIG. 28, a guide pin 6 d protrudes fromthe optical connector 6 side, but this can be omitted.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of FIG. 24.In FIG. 26, the securement member 4 is secured to the inner side of thebodies 52 and 62, and the fiber ribbon 3 extends in the mating directionof the connectors 5 and 6 at the securement part. Guide parts 5 e and 6e that movably support the optical ferrules 1A and 1B in the matingdirection of the optical connectors 5 and 6 are provided on the bodies52 and 62. The guide positions of the optical ferrules 1A and 1B areshifted in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction of theconnectors 5 and 6 with regards to the securing position of thesecurement member, and in FIG. 29, the fiber ribbon 3 has a slightS-shaped curve.

When the optical connector 6 is mated to the optical connector 5 fromthis state, the tip part (attaching part to the optical ferrules 1A and1B) of the optical fiber 2 will move in the bodies 52 and 62 along themating direction of the connectors 5 and 6. Through this, the bend inthe fiber ribbon 3 is increased, and the abutting force of the opticalferrules 1A and 1B is increased. Note that the optical connector 6 canbe in an unbent state prior to mating to the optical connector 5. Thedirection of deformation of the fiber ribbon 3 and the optical fiber 2in FIGS. 25, 27, 28, and 29 is one example, but it is also possible forthe bend to be in the opposite direction from that illustrated.

Note that in the above-described embodiment (FIG. 24), the opticalconnector 6 is provided with a securement member 4, or in other words afirst attaching region, that holds and retains the fiber ribbon 3 as theoptical waveguide, and moves in the housing of the body 62 or the like,and with an optical coupler part provided in the housing, and that movesin the housing. In other words, the optical coupler part has a secondattaching region, or in other words a V groove 105, that holds andretains the optical waveguide that is held and retained in the firstattaching region, and a light direction converting surface 222 thatchanges the direction of the light received from the optical waveguidewhen the optical waveguide is held and retained in the first attachingregion and the second attaching region, and therefore when the connector6 mates with the opposing connector 5, the first attaching region willmove, causing the optical coupler part to move. In the above-describedembodiment, the second attaching region was described as the opticalferrule 1, but in a more precise sense, it is the region where theoptical fiber 2 is attached to the optical ferrule 1.

The housing can have any configuration so long as when the optical waveguide is held and retained by the first attaching region and the secondattaching region, and the connector is mated to the opposing connector,the first attaching region moves causing the optical waveguide to movewhile the optical coupler part is also caused to move. The configurationof the first attaching region and the second attaching region is notrestricted to the aforementioned configuration. In the above-describedembodiment, the first attaching region is primarily moved laterally andthe optical coupler part is primarily moved rotationally (tilted) whenthe optical waveguide is held and retained in the first attaching regionand the second attaching region and the connector is mated to theopposite connector, but the movement of the first attaching region andthe second attaching region is not restricted thereto.

In the embodiment, when the optical waveguide was held and retained bythe first attaching region and the second attaching region, and theconnector was mated to the opposite connector, the first attachingregion moved along the direction orthogonal to the mating direction ofthe connector, but a portion of the first attaching region may alsomove. The optical coupler part of the above-described embodiment wasstably supported in the housing by the optical waveguide being held andretained by the first attaching region and the second attaching region,however, the optical coupler part may be stably supported in the housingdue at least to the optical waveguide being held and retained by thefirst attaching region and the second attaching region, or due only tothe optical waveguide being held and retained by the first attachingregion and the second attaching region.

The embodiments can be described from various perspectives. For example,in the example of FIG. 24, when the connector 6 is mated to the opposingconnector 5, the first attaching region (securement member 4) and thesecond attaching region (optical ferrule 1) will move and cause the bendof the optical waveguide (fiber ribbon 3) to increase. In this case, theoptical waveguide is not bent before the connector 6 is mated to theopposing connector 5. When the connector 6 is mated to the opposingconnector 5, the first attaching region moves in a direction essentiallyperpendicular to the mating direction of the connector 6, and the secondattaching region moves in a direction that is essentially parallel tothe mating direction of the connector 6.

The description given above is and will always be only one example, andthe present invention is not limited by the embodiments and modifiedexamples described above so long as the characteristics of the presentinvention are not violated. Obvious substitutions and replacements thatmaintain the identity of the invention are included in the compositionalelements of the embodiments and modified examples described above. Inother words, other configurations considered to be within the scope ofthe technical concept of the present invention are included in the scopeof the present invention. In addition, any combination of one or more ofthe embodiments and modified examples described above are possible.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1: optical ferrule-   2: optical fiber-   4: securement member-   10: upper wall-   11: bottom wall-   12 and 13: side walls-   14: guide opening-   15: guide part-   20: optical coupler part-   21: alignment part-   22: light direction converter-   221 (223): entrance surface-   222: light direction converting surface-   223 (221): exiting surface

1. An optical ferrule comprising upper and bottom walls defining a guideopening therebetween, the upper wall comprising an optical coupler and aguide part extending beyond the bottom wall along a mating direction ofthe optical ferrule, the optical coupler comprising an entrance surfacefor receiving light from an optical waveguide coupled to the opticalferrule, and a light direction converting surface for receiving lightfrom the entrance surface along an incoming axis and reflecting thereceived light along a different direction, the reflected light exitingthe optical ferrule through a lower major surface of the upper wall,such that when the optical ferrule mates with a mating optical ferrule,the guide part of the optical ferrule is inserted in a mating guideopening of the mating optical ferrule and a mating guide part of themating optical ferrule is inserted in the guide opening of the opticalferrule such that a light direction converting surface of the matingoptical ferrule is configured to receive and redirect the reflectedlight exiting the optical ferrule through the lower major surface of theupper wall.
 2. The optical ferrule of claim 1, wherein the opticalferrule is a male-female unit.
 3. The optical ferrule of claim 1,wherein the optical ferrule is configured so as to mate with anotheroptical ferrule according to claim 1 along a mating direction that isessentially parallel to the length direction of the optical ferrule. 4.The optical ferrule of claim 1, wherein a minimum thickness of the guideopening is approximately equal to a maximum thickness of the guide part.